Compare towns
Ashfield vs Marblehead vs Petersham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ashfield has the shortest commute (30 min average).
Marblehead has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Petersham has the most homeowners (94.2%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Ashfield | Marblehead | Petersham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,893 |
20,413Highest |
1,185Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.4% MA: +7.4% |
+3.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.6±3.4Highest 47% above MA |
49.1±2Lowest 23% above MA |
56.3±2.7 41% above MA |
| Ashfield and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.4%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.7%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 33.7%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
30.5%±4.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Ashfield and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52% MA: 47.3% |
78.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
42.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1 MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Petersham and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $80,833±$16kLowest 22% below MA |
$182,132±$28kHighest 75% above MA |
$110,750±$20k 7% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $400,600±$30k 29% below MA |
$943,900±$31kHighest 68% above MA |
$392,400±$20kLowest 30% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,100±$200Lowest 38% below MA |
$1,764±$147Highest about the MA average |
$1,679±$441 5% below MA |
| Marblehead and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,197 13% below MA |
$8,309Highest 39% above MA |
$4,636Lowest 23% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.5%±34Highest MA: 51.8% |
49.5%±8.8 MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ashfield and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.1%Highest MA: 10% |
4.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5% MA: 62.5% |
85.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1944Lowest 20 yrs older than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest about the MA average |
33 min 13% above MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
| Work from home | 24%±6 MA: 18.6% |
34%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±5.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #47 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Mohawk Trail | Marblehead | Petersham |
| High school in town | None in town | Marblehead High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.